The 2021 European Senior Men's and Ladies' Championships have been completed at Golf de Morfontaine in France.
144 competitors, aged 50 and over, teed it up on Friday for three rounds of stroke play competition.
Martin Birkholz emerged victorious in the men's championship. The German player, who won the title in a playoff in Slovenia three years ago, took an early lead over the field after an opening round of 66 (-4).
Birkholz would continue with a second consecutive under-par round on day two. A 69 (-1), which moved the German to -5 for the tournament, earned him a five shot lead heading into the final 18 holes.
In the final round Birkholz dropped shots however, finding himself six-over-par for the day with just three holes to play. At the same time, Sweden's Tord Nilsson was -1 for his round, and had taken a one-stroke lead.
The eventual champion would birdie two of the last three holes, including the 18th, to claim a one-stroke victory and his second European Senior Men's Championship title.
Ireland's Karl Bornemann carded the lowest round of the final day, a 69 (-1) to earn the silver medal on +1, while Tord Nilsson won bronze with the same score.
Gianluca Bolla (ITA) was awarded a special prize for finishing with the lowest total (+4) In the men's +60 age category.
In the ladies' event, Christine Petit-Martin triumphed.
The French player, who is also an active member of the EGA's Championship Committee, finished on top of the 54-player ladies' field.
Opening with a round of 78 (+8) on day one, Petit-Martin found herself in a tie for 15th, five shots behind the leaders. After carding the second lowest score of round two, a 71 (+1), the French player moved up 11 positions and to within one stroke of the lead.
In the final round, Petit-Martin carded four birdies for a round of 70 (par), the lowest score of the day, to claim the title by four strokes on a total of +9. She becomes the first French player to win the title since Cecilia Mourgue d'Algue in 2011.
Alexandra Kölker (GER) was awarded the silver medal, and Sophie Ducrey (SUI) the bronze. Both players finished with a total of +13.
It was Minna Kaarnalahti who earned the shot of the tournament however. The Finnish player made a hole-in-one in round two on the 13th hole, helping her to a 12th place finish.
Spain's Maria Castillo Dologaray earned the prize for the lowest +60 lady player, with a total of +16.
The full scores from the men's and ladies' events can be found on the event page.
The 2022 European Senior Championships will take place at Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia.
